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Greater Cincinnati's newest craft brewery is under construction in the village of Williamsburg in Clermont County.

If all goes well, the Old Firehouse Brewery will be serving pints and filling growlers by Fourth of July at 237 W. Main St., said proprietor Adam Cowan.

Cowan, who lives in the area, started thinking about opening a brewery a couple of years ago when he and his wife, Lori, visited one of the many breweries in Asheville, N.C. He then spent more than a year researching everything from water to grain to hops to yeast.

He hired a professional brewer, Ben Ramsey, who has worked for Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, which brews Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, and also Lexington-based Country Boy.

They're planning five initial offerings: American and Indian ales, a porter, a Scottish red, and one other, probably a Kolsch or a pilsner. From there, they hope to add one new beer per month for the next two years, plus seasonals, so they'll eventually have more than 20 taps at a time dispensing any of 100-plus recipes. Cowan said they won't be afraid to play around and try new things.

Beer will be served in pints and available for growler fills, and Cowan hopes to sell it at various greater Cincinnati restaurants, bars and other venues, too. He hopes to start canning about a year after opening.

A former firehouse seemed like the perfect fit for Cowan: The former firefighter has worked with the Loveland/Symmes and Milford departments and as a volunteer for Mt. Orab.

Cowan, who calls himself an "architecture nut," plans to keep the 1955 building, which he closed on around the first of the year, similar to when it operated as firehouse, which it did until 2001 or 2002, he said. (Luce Electric owned the building, which it used primarily as offices and storage, after that.)

At 3,000 square feet, it was a three-bay firehouse. The former left bay will hold brewing equipment, while the second and third bays will have seating, and there will be corn hole, dart boards and a couple of TVs. Cowan is gathering fire department memorabilia to display.

"It's not going to be a museum, but there will be something to talk about," he said of the displays.

He expects to have space for about 200 people, and he'll have cafe-style seating outdoors.

The brewery won't serve food, but Cowan is working to partner with local restaurants to offer delivery. And customers are welcome to bring in picnics to have with their brews.

Overall, he envisions a family-friendly, laid-back place where customers can come in and talk about beer, and ask questions.

"We're taking the brewing seriously, but we're not taking anything else seriously," Cowan said. "We want to have a good time."